PAGASA: LPA to enter Philippines

By Helen Flores, The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Heavy rains are expected over some parts of the country beginning Saturday morning after a low-pressure area enters the Philippine area of responsibility Friday afternoon.

Rene Paciente, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather forecasting chief, said the low-pressure area, to be named Agaton, is likely to intensify into a tropical depression within 24 hours.

“The weather disturbance was forecast to make landfall over Mindanao on Saturday afternoon or evening,” he said.

Paciente warned residents of Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Paciente said international weather prediction models used by PAGASA showed different forecasts for the approaching cyclone as of yesterday afternoon.

“There are models which show that it will remain stationary over the sea,” he said.

“Others show it will make landfall over Mindanao on Saturday afternoon and move upward (north) before crossing other parts of the region, eastern Visayas and southern Luzon (Bicol).”

Paciente said after crossing Mindanao, the Visayas and southern Luzon, the disturbance will return to the eastern side of the country and is expected to dissipate.

“There are numerical models which show that it will only reach tropical depression category while other forecasts show it will further intensify into a storm or even a typhoon,” he said.

Paciente said the disturbance’s erratic movement was due to the tail-end of a cold front affecting the country.

Agaton is not expected to be as powerful as Super Typhoon Yolanda, he added.

Paciente said Metro Manila residents can also expect light to moderate rains this weekend.

Coldest in Baguio

Paciente said PAGASA recorded the coldest temperature in Baguio City yesterday at 11.5 degrees Celsius.

Yesterday’s temperature surpassed the previous lowest temperature in the area last Jan. 1 at 11.8 degrees Celsius.

In Metro Manila, the temperature yesterday dipped to 19.9 degrees Celsius at around 5 a.m.

The coldest temperature in the metropolis was recorded last Jan. 1 at 19.2 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures will continue to drop in the coming weeks as the northeast monsoon peaks, weather forecasters said.